Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-23
THE G. h. s. REA DING CIRCLE&.

that they now form an important part OF
the American system Of education and are
likely to form a still more important part
yet we are aware that TO most Of our read
ers the Chautauqua plan is but name. 1t
is for the benefit of such persons that DR..
Hale's article was written, and we herewith
condense its main points.
The Chautauqua Scientific and Literary
Circle reads on plan laid out for intell-
gent people who want TO read by some sys-
tenn, yet are unable to select one for them
selves, and who have had good common
school education. II supposes such maturi-
ty Of mind and observation as may be reas-
onably expected when people are II years
old, and may not be found before. For the
other limit aged people have found much
interest in these courses, and this year sew
eral persons OF the age Of 81 have received
diploma for completing the four years
course of study The books to be read are
selected annually by Board of Chancellors
at present consisting Of John H. Vincent,
j. l.. Hurlbut, Lyman Abbott, II. w. War
ren, h. H. Hale, Jas II. Carlisle and j. NJ.
Gibson. The last named is an Engshman,
the others Americans. Persons joining the
G. l.. 5. G. receive a program laying out
roughly the course Of reading proposed for
the next four years. and are expected to
read six hours a week at the very least. A
certain central series of books are named,
which must be read in order TO obtain the
diploma. OF course it is not expected that
the reader will go very profoundly 0or in
stance) into 'The History Of the Medieval
Church" but he will have a little hand book
on that subject to read in the year 1878,
and will be referred to fuller authorities if
he wishes to go further.
In addition to these books, several arti-
cles in each number Of the Chautauquan
must be read. The Chautauquan is a
monthly magazine published under the di
rection of the managers and wholly in the
interest Of the Chautauqua University. 1t
contains in a year about as much reading
matter as the Atlantic Monthly. 1t pub
fishes no stories and only occasionally ac-
counts Of travels, devoting itself mostly to
the illustration from broad view, of the
lines of study which the Chautauqua reader
is pursuing. 1t also contains admirable ed
itorials on current matters of interest, to-
gether with answers TO such questions as
may have been addressed 10 headquarters
instructions to students, and information
concerning the work and methods of the To-
cal circles throughout the United States and
in foreign lands The circulation Of the
magazine is very large and its pecuniary
resources are ample 1t is, in truth, one Of
the most interesting and valuable periodi-
Gals published
1t may be asked, Why is it necessary to
prepare articles specially for the Chautauqua
readers, If the object be simply to guide
them in the use Of their time among the
million of books already in the world Any
college teacher who has had to prepare text
books for his own department can readily
answer this. Chautauqua undertakes little
more than to teach her pupils hOr TO learn.
Certain subjects must be studied, but stud
led under the peculiar restrictions by which
such a system is bound. There may be no
textbook at once simple enough, short
enough and good enough TO answer the
purpose This being so, the conductors of
Chautauqua attempt to supply the defcien-
cy. For example, in the coming years
course the management have determined
that in connection with the study of Amer
lean history and American literature, the
course shall consider the American active
life Of today. Where is the textbook on
this subject suitable for general readers
The directors have failed to find such
book They have, therefore, entrusted to
nine competent men the preparation of nine
papers on several departments of our ma
tional industries and these papers must be
read by the readers Of this year.
The course always includes the study in
each year of one scientific subject. Here
the difficulty of study without a teacher is,
perhaps, the greatest and here, therefore,
Textbooks have been prepared for the Cir
Gle by different writer's, who had specially
in view the fact that chemistry must be
taught with such experiments as the stu
dent could conduct, geology and mineralo-
gy without a cabinet, botany with the spec
linens he collected for himself and in various
localities and so Of the rest. The result
has been some hand books of special value.
Prof, Appleton's Chemistry was written for
the course of 1SS4-5. The scientific sub
iects treated in the four last years have
been vegetable biology in 1888, chemistry
in 1884, electricity in 1885, and geology in
1886. In the last year DR.. Warrens Rec
reations in Astronomy" also came in.
Where several people in community are
reading the same books, they naturally like
to meet occasionally to compare notes and
help and encourage each other. In this
way is formed what is known as the local
circle, which meets on specified occasions
and carries out program made up of ques-
tions, papers, readings, etc, upon subjects
connected more or less directly with the re-
quired readings.
The general course laid down is inten-
tionally arranged for the reader of least in
formation and least time but all readers
are urged to use more time, if they can, in
in carrying on such studies as specially in
terest them, and information is given in re-
gard to these advanced readings. There
are nine Of these supplementary courses.
At the end Of each year, students are
expected to fill out Memoranda" contain
ing questions upon the subjects studied, and
return TO the secretary at Plainfeld, n. j.;
and those who persevere in the course for
four years are given diploma on Recogni-
ton Day-which is the Commencement"
of the Chautauqua university. The diploma
will be sent 10 the reader at his home, or he
may attend one of the assemblies" held in
various parts of the country, and receive it
in company with hundred or more fellow
graduates, with ceremonies at once impress
sve and full of enthusiasm.
The value of the Chautauqua course lies
not so much in what one learns while pur-
suing it, as in the inspiration received to
keep on learning. A taste for solid, bene-
fetal reading is created or developed, and
the proper sources for gratifying il are
pointed out by competent teachers. To
those who may wish to know more of the
G. l., s. G. than has been told in this brief
and entirely inadequate sketch, we recon-
mend a visit to the local circle, where they
are sure TO be cordially welcomed.
The scene at LIncOln's Nomination.
The following is from the September in
Z